Monday, June 5, 2006

The Mission Defined.

Sayyid Qutb

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent

He said: “My Lord! I have killed one of them and I fear that they will kill me. And my brother, Aaron, is better in speech than I am. So send him with me as a helper, so that he would confirm what I say, for I fear that they will accuse me of lying.”

Said He: “We shall strengthen your arm with your brother, and will endow both of you with power, so that they will not be able to touch you. By virtue of Our signs shall you two and those who follow you prevail.”

When Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said: “This is nothing but forged sorcery. Never did we hear of the like of this among our forefathers of old.”

Moses replied: “My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs. Never will the evildoers be successful.”

(The Story, Al-Qasas: 28: 33-37)

When Moses realized what mission was assigned to him, he requests support, explaining his difficulties: His fear that he might not live to fulfill his task, as he thought that the Egyptians might kill him in retaliation for their man, and his speech problem. Therefore, he requests to be supported by his brother, Aaron.

Moses is reassured and his request is granted: “Said He: ‘We shall strengthen your arm with your brother, and will endow both of you with power, so that they will not be able to touch you. By virtue of Our signs shall you two and those who follow you prevail.” (Verse 35)

It is not merely that God has granted his request, but He also gave him a greatly reassuring promise, endowing both brothers with power. Thus, they will not go to face the tyrant Pharaoh relying on their own devices. They will go equipped with a source of power that cannot be resisted by any earthly force. No tyrant will have any means to harm them: “They will not be able to touch you.” How could they when you will enjoy God’s protection that creates a fence around you? But the good news Moses is given goes further than this, assuring him and his brother of the eventual outcome, which means that the truth will be triumphant. They have been given signs from God, and these signs are the means of victory: “By virtue of Our signs shall you two and those who follow you prevail.” (Verse 35)

God’s power is thus seen to intervene directly, shaping events, working through no earthly force as a cover. The victory will come through none of the causes that are familiar to people in their world. Thus a new code of values will be established in people’s hearts based on faith and complete trust in God.

This awesome scene is closed; time passes and the location changes; Moses and Aaron are now facing Pharaoh, producing God’s clear signs, refuting the arguments of falsehood and explaining God’s guidance. The end is shown: Drowning in this present life, and a curse in the life to come. All is expressed in short, concise verses:

“When Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said: ‘This is nothing but forged sorcery. Never did we hear of the like of this among our forefathers of old.’ Moses replied: ‘My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs. Never will the evildoers be successful.’ ‘Nobles!’ said Pharaoh. ‘I know of no deity that you could have other than myself. Well, Haman, kindle for me a fire (to bake bricks) of clay, and then build me a lofty tower, so that I may have a look at the god of Moses; even though I am convinced that he is one who tells lies.’ Thus arrogantly did he and his hosts behave on earth, against all right, thinking that they would never return to Us. And so We seized him and his hosts and cast them in the sea. Look what happened in the end to those wrongdoers. And We made them leaders who called others to the fire. No help will they ever receive on the Day of Resurrection. We caused a curse to follow them in this world, and on Resurrection Day they will be among those who are spurned.” (Verses 36-42)

The surah brings the final strike very quickly, making no mention of the episode of Moses confronting Pharaoh’s sorcerers, which is mentioned in brief or in detail in other surahs. Here the surah moves from the denial of the truth by Pharaoh and his people directly to their destruction. It does not stop at that, but also includes what will happen to them in the hereafter. This quick movement is deliberate, so as to fit with the general drift of the surah emphasizing God’s direct intervention, through no human agent. Once Pharaoh is seen adamant in his rejection of God’s message, his end is directly shown. No further details are needed.

“When Moses came to them with Our clear signs, they said: This is nothing but forged sorcery. Never did we hear of the like of this among our forefathers of old.” (Verse 36) These words of Pharaoh are exactly the same as those of the Quraysh idolaters in Makkah when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called on them to believe in God: “This is nothing but forged sorcery. Never did we hear of the like of this among our forefathers of old.” (Verse 36) It is merely a futile argument to confront the clear, overpowering truth. It is the same argument whenever falsehood finds itself confronting the truth: An accusation of sorcery, and a rejection based on nothing other than the fact that it is new to them. Indeed, they have no argument, and no basis for their stand. Hence, they come up with this vague statement that proves nothing. Moses refers the matter to God, because in such a situation where no proof is being requested, it is better to be brief and to let God judge between the two parties: “Moses replied: ‘My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him, and to whom the future belongs. Never will the evildoers be successful.” (Verse 37)

This is a very polite answer, which makes an implicit, yet very clear statement that is full of confidence as to the outcome of the confrontation between truth and falsehood. His Lord knows well that he is truthful, following divine guidance. The future certainly belongs to the one who comes with guidance, while the evildoers will never gain the ultimate success. This is God’s law that will never change, even though things may appear at times to move in some other way. Moses, like every prophet, puts this very clearly to his people.

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